A tense eve for the Strega Prize, which prepares to celebrate its final on July 8th at the Capitoline Hill.
According to reports on the Repubblica website, during a trip to Bisceglie in Puglia as part of the finalists' tour, there was a heated confrontation over Michela Murgia between Michele Mari, who leads the six-person field, and Teresa Ciabatti, also in the running. Also in the van, along with Mari and Ciabatti, were Matteo Nucci and Elena Rui. According to reconstructions currently based on indirect witnesses, Mari linked the intransigence and anger of the writer and activist from Cabras, who died in 2023, to personal dissatisfaction and her physical appearance. Ciabatti reportedly reacted, initially considering withdrawing from the competition.
"Regarding the wild rumors circulating about a disagreement between me and Teresa Ciabatti, I want to clarify that I never discussed Michela Murgia's physical appearance, nor would I ever have dared," Mari said. "Teresa Ciabatti and I later cleared things up, so much so that she herself told me she didn't want to pursue the matter further. I apologized to her, however, if anything I said might have hurt her; just as I certainly didn't mean to offend Michela Murgia, but merely to recall (in a private context, moreover) a distant episode of mutual misunderstanding."
This evening, the Bellonci Foundation, which organizes the historic literary award, also issued a statement: "In light of today's press reports regarding statements attributed to Michele Mari, the Bellonci Foundation considers any denigrating expression or judgment that undermines the dignity of individuals to be incompatible with the spirit of the Strega Prize."
Mari led the group with "The Stone Guests" (Einaudi), which received 280 votes; in second place was Matteo Nucci, with 242 votes for "Plato. A Love Story" (Feltrinelli). Bianca Pitzorno came in third with "The Sleepwalker" (Bompiani), 195 votes, followed by Teresa Ciabatti with "Donnaregina" (Mondadori), 184 votes, and Alcide Pierantozzi with "Lo sbilico" (Einaudi), 170 votes. Finally, Elena Rui with "Widows of Camus" (L'orma), 163 votes.
